U.S. patent number 8,065,830 [Application Number 12/154,488] was granted by the patent office on 2011-11-29 for multiple magazine loader.
Invention is credited to Chris Twardy.
United States Patent |
8,065,830 |
Twardy |
November 29, 2011 |
Multiple magazine loader
Abstract
A firearm magazine loading and unloading tool that may be formed
in a one-piece unit that is hand-held, ambidextrous, generally
rectangular in shape and able to fit inside one or more
magazines.
Inventors: |
Twardy; Chris (Lake Villa,
IL) |
Family
ID: |
41341042 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/154,488 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20090288326 A1 |
Nov 26, 2009 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/87;
42/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A
9/83 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41A
9/83 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;42/87,50,106,108
;D22/108 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Universal Mag Tool instruction manual--front and back copied onto
two pages. cited by other.
|
Primary Examiner: Lee; Benjamin P
Attorney, Agent or Firm: The Eclipse Group LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A multiple magazine loader for inserting cartridges into a
firearm magazine, comprising: an upper portion; and an extension
with a first end coupled to and projecting from a bottom side of
the upper portion, where the extension is adapted to fit between
the lips of a magazine and the length of the upper portion along a
z-axis being longer than the length of the extension along the
z-axis; the upper portion being longer in maximum length in the
z-axis than wide in maximum length in a x-axis and a y-axis
respectively; said extension being coupled to only a portion of
said bottom side; wherein a second end of the extension includes a
concave surface that is adapted to mate with an outwardly curved
surface of an ammunition cartridge; said upper portion shaped and
dimensioned such that it may be gripped in the palm of a user's
hand while said extension is at least partially inserted into the
magazine between the lips and the entire upper portion is
positioned above the magazine.
2. The multiple magazine loader of claim 1, where the upper portion
forms a stop ledge plane above the extension.
3. The multiple magazine loader of claim 2, where a space formed by
the inward curve is in a direction parallel to the stop ledge
plane.
4. The multiple magazine loader of claim 1, where the upper portion
is a solid upper area.
5. The multiple magazine loader of claim 4, where the solid upper
portion defines at least one hole.
6. The multiple magazine loader of claim 1, where the extension is
a solid extension.
7. The multiple magazine loader of claim 1, where the solid
extension defines at least one hole.
8. The multiple magazine loader of claim 1, where at least the
upper portion is made of metal.
9. The multiple magazine loader of claim 8, where the extension is
made of plastic.
10. The multiple magazine loader of claim 8, where the extension is
made of metal.
11. The multiple magazine loader of claim 1, where at least the
upper portion is made of plastic.
12. The multiple magazine loader of claim 11, where the extension
is made of plastic.
13. The multiple magazine loader of claim 1, where the upper
portion is coated with a material to aid in gripping the multiple
magazine loader.
14. The multiple magazine loader of claim 1, where the upper
portion is formed with ridges to aid in gripping the multiple
magazine loader.
15. The multiple magazine loader of claim 1, where the upper
portion has a rectangle shape.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This magazine loader relates to firearms and their magazines
sometimes referred to as clips; and more specifically, to a device
for assisting in loading bullets in to and unloading bullets out of
a magazine used by a firearm.
DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART
As magazine-fed firearms are commonly used for self defense,
hunting, target shooting, and other legal purposes, in addition to
being used by the police and military forces, it is desirable in
all of these instances to have firearm magazines (sometimes
referred to as clips) which are filled to their normal, standard
capacity. Firearm magazines, as they are loaded with rounds, become
increasingly more difficult to load. This is typically due to the
spring's asserting pressure on the rounds already within the
firearm magazine. The upward force or pressure increases with each
successive round loaded in the firearm magazine.
The insertion of rounds into the firearm magazine is usually done
with the thumb and fore fingers of the hand, which themselves
become fatigued (or even injured by edges of the magazine opening)
as additional force is required with each successive round
attempted at loading within the same firearm magazine; and further
likely with loading of multiple magazines. Firearm magazines may
contain from 6 to 40 rounds of ammunition, and depending on the
thumb, finger, or hand strength of the user, or time available, a
user may not be able to load the firearm magazine to its normal,
full capacity, thereby reducing the full utility or firepower
benefit of the weapon. Similarly, the unloading of partial or fully
loaded magazines by using only fingers is equally difficult and may
result in fatigue and injury, especially when unloading multiple
firearm magazines.
Previous known approaches to assist in firearm magazine loading and
unloading incorporate rings worn on the thumb, sleeves or boxes
which fit or attach over the top opening and outside dimensions of
firearm magazines, and/or have brackets or moving levers or arms,
or spring activated cams, or some combination of parts thereof. The
use of brackets and sleeves that attach to over the firearm
magazine typically result in a device that is only usable on one
type of magazine. As the number of parts forming a device are
increased in number, the potential for any one part failing,
wearing out or breaking increases and results in the device being
useless in a life or death situation.
What is needed is an approach to loading and unloading firearm
magazines that is reliable and protects the fingers and hands from
fatigue and injury.
SUMMARY
A firearm magazine loading and unloading device that is hand-held
with the core of the device typically being a single piece. The
device is able to fit into a multitude of different types of
firearm magazines that hold different caliber rounds. It is
ambidextrous, usable by either hand, where the user may or may not
have a full set of functioning fingers, a minimum of only one or
two functioning fingers is all that is typically needed to grasp
and use the device.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention
will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon
examination of the following figures and detailed description. It
is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and
advantages be included within this description, be within the scope
of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale,
emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of
the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate
corresponding parts throughout the different views.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a top view of an example implementation of
the magazine loader lying flat on its side.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of a left end view of the magazine loader of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of a right end view of the magazine loader of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a diagram of a three-dimensional view of the magazine
loader of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of the three-dimensional view of the magazine
loader of FIG. 4 with lightening holes.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of the magazine loader of FIG. 1 prior to being
inserted into a firearm magazine.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of the magazine loader of FIG. 1 after being
inserted into a firearm magazine.
FIG. 8 is a diagram of the magazine loader of FIG. 1 with a
cartridge being inserted into a firearm magazine.
FIG. 9 is a diagram of the magazine loader of FIG. 1 after a
cartridge has been inserted into the firearm magazine.
FIG. 10 is a diagram of the magazine loader of FIG. 1 after removal
from the firearm magazine and seating of the cartridge in the
firearm magazine.
FIG. 11 is a diagram of the magazine loader of FIG. 1 and a loaded
firearm magazine.
FIG. 12 is a diagram of the magazine loader of FIG. 1 removing a
cartridge from the loaded firearm magazine.
The foregoing description of an implementation has been presented
for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive
and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form
disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of
the above description or may be acquired from practicing the
invention. Note also that the implementation may vary between
systems. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An approach for a firearm magazine loading and unloading tool that
may be formed in as a one-piece unit that is hand-held is
described. It may be used to quickly load or unload different sized
(i.e. different firearm/caliber-specific) and different capacity
firearm magazines while reducing fatigue and injuries of a user's
thumbs, fingers and hands. In FIG. 1, a diagram 100 of a top view
of an example implementation of the magazine loader 102 lying on
its side is shown. The magazine loader 102 may be ambidextrous and
generally rectangular and solid in shape. The magazine loader 102
in the present implementation may have a maximum outside dimensions
approaching 4.75 inches in length, by 1.25 inches in width, by 3/8
(0.375) inches thick. The magazine loader 102 has an upper
rectangular area with an extension 104 that extends below the upper
rectangular area.
The top of the upper rectangular area of the magazine loader 102
may be a flat running plane, extending the entire width of the tool
and cut 90 degrees to the two flat parallel front and back end
planes of the rectangular area. The top itself may provide a shelf
for the user's grasping hand thumb to optionally press or ride upon
when using the tool as a loader. Slightly below the Top and
centered a hole 106 may be bored transversely thru the side of the
magazine loader 102, for the convenience of hanging the loader on a
hook or nail-type protrusion, or for the acceptance of a length of
tied lanyard, cord, or rope, or for the attachment of a carabineer
or other type quick connect-disconnect ring fasteners to better
facilitate carriage of the magazine loader 102 or to be better able
to retrieve the magazine loader 102 when stowed inside pockets,
bags, cases, containers, or pouches.
The bottom of the rectangle area may also be a flat running plane,
in parallel with the top plane and also cut 90 degrees to the two
parallel front and back end planes, however, 0.5 inch long up from
the bottom, it comprises a rectangular cut-out across its width,
leaving a stop ledge plane 108 and the protruding rectangular
extension 104. The extension may be referred to as an Action Post
and may have dimensions of nearly 0.312'' inches wide.times.0.5
inches'' long at the front end plane. This extension 104 and its
nearby adjoining connection point on the upper portion of the
magazine loader 102 may be slightly reduced in thickness in order
to fit freely between the feed lips of magazines.
Turning to FIG. 2, a diagram 200 of a left end view of the magazine
loader 102 of FIG. 1 is shown. The end of the extension 104 may
have an inwardly curved surface 202 for its entire width. The
inwardly curved surface 202 may be used to mate with the outwardly
curved surface of firearm ammunition cartridges or rounds when
inserting rounds into a magazine or clip. The outside dimension of
the extension 104 in the left end view is seen to be less than the
outside dimension of the upper rectangular area.
In FIG. 3 a diagram 300 of a right end view of the magazine loader
102 of FIG. 1 is shown. As in FIG. 2, the outside dimension of the
extension 104 in the right end view of FIG. 3 is seen to be less
than the outside dimension of the upper portion of the magazine
loader 102. The right end of the extension 104 may be flush with
the right end of the upper portion of the magazine loader 102. In
other implementations, the magazine loader may be formed in two or
more portions that are secured together with glue, welds, or
mechanical fasteners.
The magazine loader 102 may be positioned in a fist-like grasp of
either hand with the top oriented toward the opening created by the
index finger; the front leading edge of the front end plane, of the
extension 104 at the bottom of the magazine loader 104, is oriented
outwardly at a position furthest away from the wrist, and protrudes
from the opening created by the pinky or outermost finger.
Turning to FIG. 4, a diagram 400 of a three-dimensional view of the
magazine loader 102 of FIG. 1 is shown. The magazine loader 102 has
an extension 104 that protrudes from the bottom plane of the
magazine loader 102. In other implementations, the extension 104
may be on any of the magazine loader 102 edges. In yet other
implementations, two or more of the edges may have one or more
extensions preferably perpendicular to the plane of the edge. The
extension 104 may be formed or machined to have an inward curved
surface 202 adapted to engage the cartridge.
In FIG. 5, a diagram 500 of the three-dimensional view of the
magazine loader 102 of FIG. 4 with lightening holes 502 and 504 is
shown. The lightening holes 502 and 504 may be formed by removing
material in the upper portion of the magazine loader 102 by
drilling or milling. In other implementations, the upper portion
may be formed with lightening holes 502 and 504 when molded or
cast. The purpose of the lightening holes is to reduce the overall
weight of the magazine loader 102. The lightening holes 502 and 504
may be in addition to a lanyard hole 106. Lightening holes, such as
hole 506, may also be formed or machined in the extension 104.
Turning to FIG. 6, a diagram 600 of the magazine loader 102 of FIG.
1 prior to being inserted into a firearm magazine 602 is shown. A
firearm magazine is positioned parallel to the length of the
magazine loader 102 and centered directly underneath the extension
104 (Action Post), with the Action Post placed between and in close
proximity to the magazine feed lips. The hand grasping the loader,
drives the extension 104 with a downward motion 604 into and
between the magazine's feed lips and depresses either the magazine
follower 606 or the casing of the top-most loaded bullet or round
until the travel of the magazine loader 102 is stopped by the stop
ledge plane 108 of the upper portion.
In FIG. 7, a diagram 700 of the magazine loader 102 of FIG. 1 after
being inserted into a firearm magazine 602 is shown. With the
extension 104 at that depth in the firearm magazine 602, the
magazine loader 102 is then pulled back 702 as far as possible up
against the inside surface of the back plate or spine of the
firearm magazine 602 and held solidly in that position by the
grasping hand.
Turning to FIG. 8, a diagram 800 of the magazine loader 102 of FIG.
1 with a cartridge 802 being inserted into a firearm magazine 602
is shown. The free hand (not holding the magazine loader 102)
retrieves a loose cartridge 802, bullet or round, orients the
primer side of the cartridge 802 between and under the magazine
feed lips of magazine 602 and pushes the cartridge inward 804 until
it contacts the leading edge of the extension 104 of the magazine
loader 102 within the magazine 602 as shown in the diagram 900 of
FIG. 9.
In FIG. 10, a diagram 1000 of the magazine loader 102 of FIG. 1
after removal from the magazine 602 and seating of the cartridge
802 in the firearm magazine 602 is shown. The magazine loader 102
is removed by pulling up with an upward motion 1002 on the magazine
loader resulting in the extension 104 being removed from the
firearm magazine 602. The hand grasping the loader withdraws the
Action Post out of the magazine and the magazine spring pushes the
follower and all previously loaded rounds upwardly against the
magazine feed lips. The top-most cartridge just loaded is partially
held in its temporary place, and is then pushed backwards as far as
possible and up against the inside edge of the back plate or spine
of the magazine 602 to complete the loading process. The use of the
tool as a loader previously described is repeated for each
successive round of ammunition wanting to be loaded into the
firearm magazine 602.
In FIG. 11, a diagram 1100 of the magazine loader 102 of FIG. 1 and
a loaded firearm magazine 1102 having at least one cartridge 1104
is shown. The magazine loader is also capable of assisting in the
quick unloading of ammunition rounds or cartridges from firearm
magazines. The loaded magazine 1102 is held in one hand and the
magazine loader 102 is held in a fist-like grip of the grasping
hand, but is oriented in an upside-down fashion where the extension
104 is protruding from the opening created by the index finger and
the top end is protruding from the opening created by the pinky or
outermost finger. The magazine loader 102 is held in an approximate
45 degree angle and then one of the flat sides of the extension 104
is placed flatly upon the back edge of the top-most ammunition
round as shown in FIG. 12.
Turning to FIG. 12, a diagram 1200 of the magazine loader 102 of
FIG. 1 removing a cartridge 1104 from the loaded firearm magazine
1102 is shown. The grasping hand then pushes the magazine loader
102 in a forward motion 1202, thusly driving the top cartridge 1104
forward and out from under the magazine feed lips, freeing the
cartridge 1104 from the magazine 1102. The use of the magazine
loader 102 as an unloader is repeated for each successive round of
ammunition to be unloaded from the firearm magazine or clip.
In both uses of the magazine loader 102, loading and unloading, the
user is provided a time savings benefit, while also enjoying
reduced injury to the thumbs, fingers, and hands. The magazine
loader 102 may be used by as few as one finger of the grasping
hand; or incrementally, two, three, four, or five fingers,
depending on the user's handicap, injury, or preferred grasping
technique. The magazine loader 102 is also designed with the
advantage of compactness or flatness, being only 3/8 (0.375)
deep/thick at its widest point in its end-profile. It may be
purposely designed for storage or carrying in widely available
pistol magazine pouches, or folding knife pouches, or other pouches
of similar, compact dimension. In a preferred embodiment the
magazine loader 102 may be formed from a single rigid piece of
aluminum. In other implementations, the magazine loader 102 may be
formed from one or more materials including aluminum, steel, iron,
stone, or other material(s), such as rubber, plastics (including
resins), resistant to finger or hand bending. In yet other
implementations, the upper area of the magazine loader 102 may be
formed from one material the extension 104 formed from a different
material that is attached to the upper area by glue, friction,
welds, screws, and pegs, or a combination of glue, friction, welds,
screws and pegs. All measurements of the current implementation are
described for "rough stock" and may vary depending on materials
used, or alterations made during manufacture and finishing, or by
the intended magazine or clip the loader is being designed for; the
weight of the loader will also vary depending on any or all of the
same, and also on lightening/carriage holes, or cuts, or markings,
or engravings or labels affixed thereto.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention
will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon
examination of the following figures and detailed description. It
is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and
advantages be included within this description, be within the scope
of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
* * * * *